I was inspired to write Dark Skinned after listening to some people share on Youtube who had went through similar situations growing up that I did. Hearing their stories helped me heal and deal with some issues I had been holding onto. I was eager to share to so could be that motivation for someone else. I started out writing the stories for blog entries but I soon realized the content was more in depth and needed to be housed in a book. Being Dark Skinned was specifically what I had to deal with but that issues are interchangeable- one could be over weight, too short, too tall, not athletic etc. I believe talking about your issues can help others deal with theirs.

ULM: Did you always want a career as an author?

That desire came later. I always wanted to motivate and inspire people around me so I have always been in the light. Becoming an author was a natural progression to building greater influence.

ULM: How would you describe your writing style using only three words?

Open. Honest. Transparent.

ULM: What is the message you would like readers to take from reading your novel?

You can control everything that happens to you but you can control your response to it. Don’t let dark moments make you dark. Use those moments to create light in dark places.

ULM: Why is it challenging to get African American men to share their experiences caused by their darker skin tone?

From youth, African American boys are told to stop crying and to man up. Showing emotions not equated to masculinity. Little boys are often forced to grow up to fast becoming man too soon. It’s easier to suppress the hurt then risk being viewed as weak.

ULM: Do you think the racism in America will ever end?

Honestly, I do not. I think it will become harder to openly display it. Racism is a legacy. Racist pass those ideas down to their children.

ULM: You mentioned holding a B.A. in Ethno-Musicology. Can you explain what it was like studying for that?

Half of my academic career was spent in the music department and the other was spent in the history department learning about the African Diaspora. Not only were Africans shipped off like cattle but the oppressors tried to erase their history. There is evidence in the music of African American Music that supports Deculturization was not successful.

ULM: You mentioned that African American men are supposed to be big and strong all the time. That they are not supposed to cry. I’ve also noticed that this stigma sticks to all men despite color of skin tone. Why do you think society view men in this way?

We are what we see. Men have traditionally been the head of the house hold, the primary provider, and the stronger sex. That image is everywhere in history and media. Anything that doesn’t fit that norm is not accepted.

ULM: How did your masters in entertainment, help prepare you as a newspaper executive, singer, songwriter and being an author?

It helped me pay more attention to presentation and packaging. A good idea will stay that if you do not connect the right people and get others to buy. We can limit our growth because of our inability to reach out. We do not have to be masters of everything.

ULM: What songs have you written?

My most recent song is one called “Flawed” that sums up many of the emotions I dealt with growing up dark skinned. I went through a phase where I questioned God’s intentions in creating me flawed. I want my music to articulate feelings people are sometimes reluctant to express.

ULM: Do you have more books planned, if so, can you share that with us, readers?

I want to do another book of “Dark Skinned” stories. I want to change the approach by interviewing others who have stories to tell. I also want to do a children’s book describing how great the world would be if we follow the rules we had on the playground. Be nice and wait your turn.

ULM: What lead you to the media and entertainment industry?

I love to create content for others to enjoy and/or scrutinize. I like tough conservations this career path welcomes those types of conversations.

Adam: I swore off men years ago to protect myself. I don’t trust guys. Guys break hearts, they take, and they don’t give like women do. That’s why for the past ten years I’ve entrusted my heart to a tattooed, multi-hair colored, vixen named Trix. Trixie is my safe haven. She doesn’t just back up my voice in our band she backs me in life.
Sadly, I don’t reciprocate like I should. My phobia of PDA and my over-protectiveness are hard to put up with. It might be because I need more than I let on. More than I would dare to admit to.
We moved to NY to grow as a band but then I met ‘him’…our boss; a sexy as hell, bad boy with a convict’s past and a talent for breaking men and women’s hearts alike. He’s bad news… An urban beast with too much edge and he’s prowling around my comfort-zone relationship.
Now I’m not sure who my significant other is… my girl or the man determined to remind me who I really am and what I truly want.

Trixie: Coming to the city was our ticket to fame. It was me and Adam against the odds of notoriety but since we arrived in the Big Apple, we’ve also been made aware how small our bubble of safe love is.
I know what my boyfriend probably hasn’t admitted to himself… that I’m not enough for him. We both are just too chicken to do anything about it.
New York is changing us. The people we meet here, the emotions we face, even our music… and if there is anything you learn from these streets, it’s this…
Traffic and life, they both wait for no one. You have to go with the flow, ride the current, and keep up the pace. Both Adam’s love and mine is being tested, or it’s about to end.
Hopefully we can figure it all out. Oh and add that to my list of to do’s like keeping my twin away from a dangerous drug lord, struggling not to fall from a stranger, keeping the band from falling apart and not becoming a bumbling idiot in front of our criminally hot boss. Yeah…criminal…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Significant Other by Nicole Strycharz is another brilliant masterpiece. Striaght and the LGBT community will love this book. Once more, I got another taste of the heart and soul the writer puts into her words. Emotionally, tugging on my heart strings. I cried, I laughed, and I fell in love. Frustrating, stunning, and well-told. The entire tale was nothing but epic.

Nicole Strycharz created her first novel featuring a gay couple. A man who likes other men. That was until he had his heart broken. Then, he went and fell for Trixie. A female singer. But despite her loving him…something just was missing. Both knew it. Adam just didn’t want to face it and neither did Trixie. Adam is a sexy hot alpha male who easily gets under readers skin, like he did to me. His has a big heart. I noticed that from the beginning. Adam hid himself with Trixie…keeping his heart guarded. Until, they meet their new boss. A boss that is more alpha than Adam, sexy hot too, and has a thing for Adam…

Trixie is a submissive kind of woman. Made her great for Adam. But she wasn’t meant for him. That’s thought love. She knew Adam’s real love and it wasn’t for her. Trixie too, has the biggest heart anyone has read in fiction. Despite her sexy tough looks, lies a sweet engaging woman looking for love. Trixie finds love but it fails…then she has a sister that made me want to hug Trixie. Trixie goes out and beyond for her sister. A sister who will never change…

Overall, The Significant Other is a book I can easily see made into a movie for 18-year-olds and above due to its content. Sex, drugs, and other things. Life is messy, complicated, and unfair. I really enjoyed this novel, because it brought out real life issues that people battle with each day. Believable, intriguing, and well-written. Nicole Strycharz has done it again with her latest piece. I applaud Nicole for her astounding job in creating three-dimensional characters whose stories I’ll never forget. So readers, yes, I highly recommend this talented writer’s book, TheSignificantOther to all.

Sometimes you get a second chance to live the life you’ve always wanted…if you’re brave enough to take the chance.
In this epic tale of love, loss, and redemption, the year is 1861, a time when women are expected to be married by a certain age. At 26, spinster Emily Wainwright has no reason to believe her sheltered life will ever change — until the charming Samuel Todd unexpectedly crosses her path.
Samuel yearns to homestead and start a family in Oregon, but he first needs to find a wife. Blinded by Samuel’s good looks, and grasping at her final chance to have a husband and children, Emily accepts his marriage proposal. However, Samuel is not the man she thought he was, and her marriage becomes a cold, cruel prison, offering her no solace amidst the hardships of farm life.
When Samuel dies and a second chance at love and happiness arrives in the form of farmhand Cole Walker, Emily must overcome her bitter past—or risk losing Cole and the life she has always dreamed of having.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Blue Hour by Vicki Righettini is a historical read that will inspire many. Inside, readers will find out how women lived, what was expected of them by society, and the difficulty of marriage. Marriage is scary especially, during this time period. If stuck in a bad marriage, there was any escape. I easily connected with the main charcater. A pioneer woman. Stronger than most women I know.

The Blue Hour presents readers with the journey of one woman. Emily Wainright. She wasn’t married yet but the pressure of it caused her some serious issues. Then, marrying lead her to a man who looked good outside but was rotten inside…the marriage was a disaster. No escape. But Emily spores her best to survive. Soon, fate gives her a second chance in life. Her husband dies leaving her free. Only Emily isn’t sure of what to make of the new man in her life. Life is hard and having already made one mistake, Emily is weary of making another one.

Next there’s the male protagonist. Cole Walker. A decent man who is a farmhand. Good looking and kind. He is good for Emily. However, due to her past, Cole may not have a chance with her. Their futures are set on whether Emily can overcome her fears and let go of the past. Otherwise, she may lose her chance at happiness. Real happiness.

The Blue Hour is an unforgettable tale. Detailing the hardships and life of women out west. I was fascinated from the beginning to end. Here, I experienced hard work, society’s rules and expectation, romance, love, loss, and kindness. The emotional journey was believable and stunning. Overall, I highly recommend Vicki Righettini’s novel to readers everywhere.

Abduction issues an Amber Alert for the souls and minds of America’s youth. The book exposes how the liberal Left seeks to brainwash our children. It places a spotlight on the corruption that permeates the entertainment, educational, and judicial systems of our nation. Parents, teachers, and policymakers need to know what is happening right under their noses. Abduction offers a practical guide for fighting back against those who would destroy the moral compasses of our children.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Abduction: How Liberalism Steels Our Children’s Minds and Hearts by both Steve Feazel and Dr. Carol M. Swan is an excellent read. This book is a must have for all readers whether you’re an intrigued conservative on what the liberals have done and are doing or a liberal yourself. Topics like mainstream media, how porn has been incorporated as an approved academic subject and many more. I found myself engaged with the content. Shocking truth…and a lot of research went into writing this. The book not only goes on how liberalism works on spepcific areas but also shows the conservative side as well. I like how the writers brought both sides into the informative piece and not just one sided. However, it does show greatly the side affects of liberalism on every issue. That stunned me. As a conservative myself, there were things…a lot that I wasn’t aware of about both my side and the opposite side. After reading Abduction: How Liberalism Steels Our Children’s Minds andHearts, I have been reeducated on everything I thought I knew. The writers dive deep, into political, economical, and institutional issues. Education is at the center of it all. Liberals are teaching our kids everywhere more so than conservatives…I can only remember one time a particular teacher tried reinforcing me to believe her perspective on a major topic. That was in my senior year in high school. She thought that if we didn’t accept her policy on the matter than we were wrong. That’s not what teachers are for…they are to teach us subject not force us to accept their beliefs unless enrolled in a religious school. Otherwise the teacher was wrong for what she did. In college, I have not meet any teachers forcing my to accept anything I didn’t agree with…Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers worldwide.

Not only can he think circles around most of his peers, but he has also a skill for maneuvering through his father, the Duke of Wardington’s, marriage schemes.

Mark’s plan: Dodge women of good breeding. Dodge marriage.

The plan had done the Duke of Wardington’s youngest son well for years… that is until the day Mark was presented with a new challenge.

He must instruct a lady in the ways of science and present her to His Majesty by the end of the season as a great mind.

It’s a challenge that he can’t refuse… but when he meets his lovely student, Mark finds he’s up for another challenge entirely.

A Woman on the Run from Herself…

Lady June Haywood is ready to take on any challenge that will get her in Society’s good graces once again.

Scandals from her past have made life hard for her, so she’s willing to do whatever it takes redeem her reputation.

Anything but marriage.

With June’s secret past, the last thing she needs in her life is another man, but Mark is like no man she’s ever encountered and very quickly, lessons in chemistry and psychology turn toward anatomy.

Namely, hers.

He doesn’t wish to marry and neither does she, but what will happen when their actions give flame to new scandal?

Page Count: around 330 pages

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Eleanor Meyers has created a stunning historical romance. Her novel explores the theme of women and them getting an education. Most men think it’s a joke. But there are some men like, Lord Mark Dawnton, who find educating those who seek it as something praise worthy. At first, he thinks the woman sent to him was due to his father’s marriage schemes…but it turned out to be a real request to learn. Plus, he can’t stop thinking about the woman. She doesn’t hit on him or is impressed with his scandalous ways. But he has impressed her with his speeches on various scientific stuff. She remembers everything he said. Now, that has caught his attention. He dismisses her…but soon finds himself wanting her in more ways than one.

The Skills of A Scoundrel by Eleanor Meyers is perfect. It sizzles with heat, action, and intrigue. Every page was as captivating as the first. Two unlikely characters set together yet both defy the other…but as fate has it, both will be attracted before they realize it. Love, danger, and learning. A strong female heroine and a matching male figure are bound to lure readers deep into this story. Their personalities are like fire. They set ablaze reader’s appetite to know more. Once again, I found myself pulled into Eleanor Meyers fascinating world of fiction. I love her writing. I can never get bored of reading her novels. As each character has his and her own struggles. Dilemmas that readers can easily understand and relate to…overall, I highly recommend The Skills of A Scoundrel to all.

Charlotte Alexandra Long is determined to create her own life, but severe reverberations await her at the crossroads of each decision and always the possibility that the very thing she put in place on her own terms could be wiped away by an uncertain future. As Pepper’s Ghost weaves in and out of her experiences as a teen and young adult, and locations in the South and Midwest, Alex emerges from the remains of young Charlotte, but her evolving identity will never escape being an outsider in society’s eyes. After a series of ill-fitting jobs, Alex joins a traveling amusement company as a sideshow performer, where illusion and reality interplay through the metaphor of an old theater trick. She faces challenges from her troubled but devoted father, her self-absorbed mother, a spectrum of circus employees, and emotional ties to memories and places that give solace in times of ambiguity and loneliness.

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Pepper’s Ghost by William Auten is a YA read that will lure readers into its depth. The young character, Charlotte Alexandra, aka Alex, is interesting. She is unlike most leading female characters. What she really is surprised me…her journey was one wild roller-coaster ride after another. The dynamics of family life are played throughout this read. The parents make the life for Alex a bit more complex than should be. I liked how as a main character she was constantly challenged. Alex took on each challenge moving through life the best she could do. Sometimes things worked out and sometimes not. William Auten portrayed the realities of life along with fantasy in way the just made readers like myself more curious. Memories…and emotions were strong, it was easy to be swept up within them. Pepper’s Ghost is a coming of age tale that comes off as entertaining, mysterious, and deep. The plot was developed and the pace was steady. Overall, I recommend it to all.

Lord Mark Dawnton is a genius. Everyone says so.
Not only can he think circles around most of his peers, but he has also a skill for maneuvering through his father, the Duke of Wardington’s, marriage schemes.

Mark’s plan: Dodge women of good breeding. Dodge marriage.
The plan had done the Duke of Wardington’s youngest son well for years… that is until the day Mark was presented with a new challenge.

He must instruct a lady in the ways of science and present her to His Majesty by the end of the season as a great mind.
It’s a challenge that he can’t refuse… but when he meets his lovely student, Mark finds he’s up for another challenge entirely.

A Woman on the Run from Herself…
Lady June Haywood is ready to take on any challenge that will get her in Society’s good graces once again.
Scandals from her past have made life hard for her, so she’s willing to do whatever it takes redeem her reputation.

Anything but marriage.
With June’s secret past, the last thing she needs in her life is another man, but Mark is like no man she’s ever encountered and very quickly, lessons in chemistry and psychology turn toward anatomy.
Namely, hers.
He doesn’t wish to marry and neither does she, but what will happen when their actions give flame to new scandal?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Skills of a Scoundrel by Eleanor Meyers is a fascinating read. This historical romance intrigues readers from page one. I was hooked in immediately. The characters set the pacing in a fast but entertaining way. Never was there a moment for dullness. I felt the emotions coming forth from the characters as if they were my own. The heat and intimidating circumstances felt right. Women struggling to reach out into the world of academics…and here we meet one fine lady brave enough to step into it. Scandal following the blue-eyed beauty everywhere she goes. Not because she did something wrong but due to a friend under her watch. Imagine how cruel society is back then compared to now…gossip could ruin a soul and their family’s name forever. Consequences come into play, and it was exciting to watch the lead female character turn down a prominent man not once once, not twice but three times in one night. Oh, a man’s ego…has set him even more determined to win lady June Harwood’s hand. She’s all he thinks about no matter what he’s doing. A woman who loves learning as much as a man is one to behold…and to never let go. However, danger is ahead and the past may just keep all well-thought plans away…

Skills of a Scoundrel is highly engaging to read. The book was easy to follow along and the characters were enchanting. Eleanor Meyers has once more brought a new favorite to my hands. The emotional attachment is great. The suspense was perfect. I was constantly on my toes waiting the final outcome. Eleanor Meyers’ writing is superb. She creates fresh fiction that captivates and engages readers to follow along. Never knowing where they will be led. Overall, I highly recommend this brilliant piece of literature to all.

Samantha Hastings lived a quiet, peaceful life on her family’s country estate. With no man to order her around and no stifling society rules to follow, she considered herself blessed. However, when her brother’s ship sinks during a short trip to France, Samantha receives a request from her sister-in-law to return to town and manage the late Earl’s finances. Suddenly thrust into society, Samantha faces an unfamiliar world and a pair of very familiar green eyes.

Lord Benjamin Westwood never intended on following through with his rash promise to his best friend. Now, with Edward’s death, Benjamin becomes the unwilling guardian to Edward’s bratty little sister, who has grown up considerably since the last time they met. His intention to marry her off to the first available suitor is thwarted when he finds himself falling for Samantha’s unique demeanor. He lights upon the perfect plan; a marriage of convenience, giving him the opportunity to romance Samantha without distraction.

However, when they discover Edward’s disappearance was due to foul play, Benjamin’s perfect plan begins to quickly unravel. Now, Samantha is in more danger than either of them realized and Benjamin is running out of time.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

A Perfect Plan by Alyssa Drake is an intoxicating read. The words fill one’s mind and send the heart racing. The raw desires brings out a chemistry so strong I could hardly believe I was simply reading about them. But intimacy isn’t the only exciting part of this novel. Alyssa Drake has also, masterfully woven a suspenseful yet deadly mystery into her historical romance. I have never felt so pumped about reading a historical tale than I have when reading this book. The pages come to life. Showing readers as they follow along. The chemistry builds with every page. Creating an intense atmosphere. The danger ahead is oe that will keep readers on the edge of their seats in wait.

Alyssa Drake creates a story of a young woman who only had her brother. When info comes in saying his boat has sunk she is soon called back into society to play a part. Samantha was just getting used to not having a man around to boss her around nor have to be anything society asked until recently. The plot thickens when news that her father had been murdered. Benjamin a friend of Samantha’s brother made a promise to take care of Sammantha if anything foul happened. So, when fate calls him to fulfill the promise made he at first hates his new duty but after meeting Sammantha he soon falls fast. But the danger isn’t over yet. Sammantha might also be in danger as well…and Benjamin’s plans for seducing her will have to wait. Overall, I loved reading this brilliant novel. I loved the characters and their troubles. Well-written and entertaining. I highly recommend A Perfect Plan to readers everywhere.

Nicholas Knight rises to Dukedom after his father’s recent murder. His rank leads him to meet two women. Angelina Leblanc, a mysterious courtesan from the British Isles, with hidden motives and a destructive secret. Then Genevieve Bissonette, a young debutante just presented at court with a nose for trouble. She often takes the duke with her on her reputation endangering escapades. One lands them down an irreversible path. Meanwhile, Nicholas has a friend with a nasty grudge spawning his hate in a festering wound of prior rejection. The man’s eerie obsession with his sister has come full circle since he’s now plotting against him one loved one at a time. Can Nicholas keep the women in his life safe? Will he discover who his enemies are as they continue to multiply? Who can he trust when even his friends are foes? Both women want and expect completely different things from him. One’s his fitted match; his undeniable equal and the other his perfect opposite. Loving two people is possible but is it obtainable? This is the world, where holding someone’s hand alone can break the delicate fibers of your reputation and reputation isn’t just image, it’s power.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Duke of Golden of Golden Shire by Nicole Strycharz is one phenomenal read. Talk about wow…Instantly, readers are plunged deep into the plot…and straight into the characters shoes. I cried, laughed, blushed and felt frustrated in more ways than one. Readers will need a tissue box for this remarkable story. I couldn’t stop reading once I opened up the book. The heat, hot sex, and emotional journey, was a million times that of any other novel I have ever read. Those most talked about movies that move the audience in ways that you can’t stop thinking about them…well, The Duke of Golden Shire is exactly that. I finished it in one night and haven’t stopped thinking about it since then…Nicole Strycharz is beyond talented. Her words pull readers in and then wrap a tight vine around them and keep them prisoner until the ending. OMG! The ending…I can’t say too much without spoiling it…but readers will be on hands and knees beginning for the next brilliant adventure. This was masterfully woven for all readers’ entertainment and I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. I know for a fact that I simply can’t get enough of Nicole Strycharz’s writing…her characters will blow readers away.

“Dying To Be Beautiful is a fascinating look into the multimillion dollar world of beauty and the things people will do to attain it. [Rosen is] a fun and engaging storyteller who clearly knows her way around a plot twist or two. Jenna manages to be both tough and glamorous in her role as a private investigator.” New York Publishing Agent The second book in the “Dying to be Beautiful” mystery series, “Fashion Queen,” begins with another murder on Eastern Long Island: The mystery series takes place in The Hamptons, where the murdered and suspected murderers are often arrogant and obnoxious with a sense of entitlement. Private Investigator Jenna Preston and her longtime friend, Detective Troy Johnson, work together to solve these murders and other crimes. Apparently, in the billion dollar world of beauty especially on the East End of Long Island, there are those who are literally…dying to be beautiful.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Dying To Be Beautiful (Fashion Queen) by M. Glenda Rosen is intriguing…like a gossip magazine featuring celebrities. In this murder mystery novel, that’s exactly what is used to help find clues about those being murdered and who is connected to everyone involved. A famous top fashion designer has been found murdered. He was left dead in a small gown that he designed with a cheap blonde wig and black nail polish. Soon, a friend and possible lover of his is found dead in another gown designed by the dead fashion designer and left in a cheap blonde wig and black nail polish. There are many people involved as suspects but who the murderer is and why is something that leaves not only the police and female detective stunned but also the readers. This gritty tale and highly entertaining read kept me hooked from the beginning to end. I was instantly taken into the crime scenes and the lives of the rich and famous inside The Hamptons. A place where everyone dies trying to be beautiful…the only question is can the private investigator and detective solve these crimes before it’s too late?

Dying To Be Beautiful (Fashion Queen) was fast-paced, exciting, and extremely suspenseful. Every page contained tons of action, drama, and left readers with many what ifs. More questions then, answers build up…until the finale. M. Glenda Rosen has brilliantly brought together realistic situations and threats that our society continues to face and puts into one riveting fictional piece for all to enjoy. The characters make the story believable. I enjoyed following the private investigator and her friends in solving each crime scene.Sexuality, fashion, and murder are masterfully woven into a story that keeps readers fascinated. Overall, I highly recommend Dying To Be Beautiful to readers everywhere.

“The mother begins to destroy the child the moment it’s born,” wrote the founder of behaviorist psychology, John B. Watson, whose 1928 parenting guide was revered as the child-rearing bible. For their dangerous and “mawkish” impulses to kiss and hug their child, “most mothers should be indicted for psychological murder.”

Behave is the story of Rosalie Rayner, Watson’s ambitious young wife and the mother of two of his children.

In 1920, when she graduated from Vassar College, Rayner was ready to make her mark on the world. Intelligent, beautiful, and unflappable, she won a coveted research position at Johns Hopkins assisting the charismatic celebrity psychologist John B. Watson. Together, Watson and Rayner conducted controversial experiments on hundreds of babies to prove behaviorist principles. They also embarked on a scandalous affair that cost them both their jobs—and recast the sparkling young Rosalie Rayner, scientist, and thinker, as Mrs. John Watson, wife and conflicted, maligned mother, just another “woman behind a great man.”

With Behave, Andromeda Romano-Lax offers a provocative fictional biography of Rosalie Rayner Watson, a woman whose work influenced generations of Americans, and whose legacy has been lost in the shadow of her husband’s. In turns moving and horrifying, Behave is a richly nuanced and disturbing novel about science, progress, love, marriage, motherhood, and what all those things cost a passionate, promising young woman.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Behave by Andromeda Romano-Lax is definitely a must read for all women. This fictional biography piece is a fascinating historical tale that will drag readers down one promising young woman’s life as one life moment spins her whole life downward…

Andromeda Romano-Lax’s stunning novel portrays a woman’s ambition, work, and motherhood. Behave explores the psychological, emotional, and ethical ways of a smart, attractive, and independent woman. A well-known scientist soon falls into motherhood by accident…and now she’s living, behind a man as nothing more than a shadow. As a student studying sociology, communications, and education this novel….was beyond amazing. It informs, educates, and shows readers…what life was like for women like Rosalie Rayner. Readers will be spellbound by this magnificent story. A most compelling and well-written novel. Overall, I highly recommend Behave to readers everywhere.

# Imagine a vibrant community that dumps 5,000 years of cultural traditions. Imagine a society without politicians, without corporate secrets, without adverts, without disparity in the spendable wealth of its citizens. Such a community has defied the status quo. It has aroused fear and envy among the powerful elite. It needs extraordinary protection from those who would bring it down.

# Add the cold water of frustrating romance.

# Nyssa has spent years in virtual bondage to a Japanese pimp before she landed at Dog Breakfast, a co-op dedicated to urban security and espionage. She is welcomed despite her woeful past. She begins training as an operative and soon finds the physical hurdles almost beyond reach. But she can’t turn back because the co-op has become “home” and if she fails she’d lose her best chance for redemption.

# Kazuo has lost touch with the stone fox he met at the ski resort. He will meet her again, but in a way, he doesn’t expect.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Loose Thread: Cool Assasins (book 1) by J.O. Quantaman is extraordinary. His writing delivers the best of the best futuristic fantasy. A science fiction novel that takes readers into a whole new world. The characters are fascinating…and the scenes are vivid. They pop off the pages as readers rush in turning them to find out what happens next. I am not normally into science fiction yet J.O. Quantaman has masterfully captured my attention with this first book. I enjoyed reading this suspenseful, entertaining, and intriguing book. After readers read this one, they too will be begging for the next book in this exciting series. Overall, I highly recommend reading Loose Thread: Cool Assasins (book 1) by J.O. Quantaman. You will lose yourself in his characters and marvelous plot.

Henrietta Dexter wasn’t devastated over her broken engagement but she was unsure of what to do next. That changes when her handsome lawyer cousin Ralf offers to get her away from the gossip and drama of Maybrook. She agrees to go back with him to the city of D.C. only to learn the man isn’t really her cousin!

Her budding attraction to Ralf makes things complicated but it also forces her to confront the parts of herself she doesn’t like. Her selfish and spoiled upbringing has made her into someone Ralf could never see himself with. She makes a point to learn more about the world around her meanwhile his handsome friend is sporting for her heart.
Matters of the heart must wait; however when Henrietta ends up preoccupied with a murder case surrounding a local Jewelry shop, that she hopes will wipe her slate clean if she solves it. She’s a long way from her little town of Maybrook and that distance is giving her the courage to break society’s rules, romantic limits and even test family honor when her unfolding romance challenges everything. Finding her passion and herself may be her greatest adventure yet in the Nation’s Capitol.

Matters of the heart must wait; however when Henrietta ends up preoccupied with a murder case surrounding a local Jewelry shop, that she hopes will wipe her slate clean if she solves it. She’s a long way from her little town of Maybrook and that distance is giving her the courage to break society’s rules, romantic limits and even test family honor when her unfolding romance challenges everything. Finding her passion and herself may be her greatest adventure yet in the Nation’s Capitol.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Readers beware, Nicole Strycharz is one amazing writer. Her world of fiction grabs readers instantly. Luring them deep into her juicy plot and sending them hot on the mystery trail. A Passion for Henrietta is a mystery suspense novel that readers will love. A brewing romance, surprises, and a case to solve will attract readers like moths to a flame.

Nicole Strycharz has beautifully spun together a tale the is full of intrigue, drama, and suspense. A Passion for Henrietta is book 2 in Nicole Strycharz’s thrilling Maybrook Trilogy. I can’t believe the raw talent that shines through her writing. The characters make readers wish they can just vaporize straight into her magnificent novel…and help a strong independent woman like Henrietta solve a mystery. Two men are after her heart, a murder case open, and trying to figure out what one wants is a huge plate to balance yet it’s highly entertaining reading about…This is definitely one romantic historical novel that I highly recommend to readers everywhere. I loved reading this title…and I can promise that Nicole Strycharz’s latest book won’t disappoint readers.

外黒人 is a spiritual rag, to riches adventure. I have been blessed to live a ‘storybook life’ but not in any glamorous way. Writing this book has allowed me to examine my role as a person of color—which I refer to as ‘melanin-rich’—in a society which has proven itself to be hostile toward non-Caucasian people. Because this is part memoir, part historical treatise, and part survivor’s guide, it is my intention to stretch the parameters of a conventional novel.

In Japanese, the word Gai-koku-jin, literally meaning outside-country-person; i.e. the foreigner, is traditionally written as「外国人」. I, however, am coining terminology by replacing the middle character with「黒」, which is pronounced identically but means ‘black’ instead of country. Not only does this symbolize my own cultural perspective, but it also represents a set of circumstances which is not limited to any race or country.

Book 1 of this trilogy is told through the eyes of a confused child. A stranger in my own home, like so many neglected children, I found a surrogate family in the street—mainly at our neighborhood basketball courts. After learning how to ‘make a dollar out of fifteen cents,’ I was headed down a tried-and-true path for disaster until, ironically, a Beast and a Serpent came to my rescue.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Gaikokujin-The Story by Taknan Amarn is one powerfully yet captivating story. A novel like this is a must read. Taknan Amarn gives his readers a story rich in culture, history, and philosophy. His characters give readers a show not tell, version of life and how society operates. Society doesn’t always operate in a way to benefit all people. Those of color and gender were mistreated in ways none of us can expect. That and the issues of poverty didn’t help these groups much either.

Gaikokujin – The Story is told by the Taknan Amarn’s point of view. His fictional world allows readers to see a side of the world most of us choose to ignore. Society’s norms take control of us like the Devil having complete control over what we say or do. Readers will follow a survivor’s journey through these troubling times. A refreshing and symbolic novel that readers will enjoy reading. I look forward to reading more by this talented writer and highly recommend his novel to readers worldwide. Gaikokujin – The Story is the story readers won’t want to miss. Absolutely inspiring…and suspenseful.